Adelphia Martinez and Annaleya,"Blue Water," her great granddaughter
Replica of 1711 Church and graveyard for reservation members
San Ildefonso Pueblo Reservation, New Mexico
Replica of 1711 Church and graveyard for reservation members
San Ildefonso Pueblo Reservation, New Mexico
Kiva - gathering and ceremonial place
San Ildefonso Pueblo Reservation, New Mexico
San Ildefonso Pueblo Reservation
New Mexico
The San Ildefonso Pueblo Indian Reservation was home to Maria Martinez, world famous maker of burnished black waro pottery. She was born in 1887, married at age 17 in 1904, and traveled with her husband on her wedding day to the World's Fair in St. Louis. There she was recognized for her pottery for the first time and subsequently became world famous. She is the most famous of all Pueblo Indian potters. She died in 1980.
It was an honor to be able to visit this Reservation. All the homes and building on the reservation were made of adobe. Though a poor reservation, it was not nearly as poor as the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. The entire reservation was rock and sand, no grass. Pueblo artisans open their homes to tourists. A sign outside their home indicates open or closed. There were five or six homes open today. We visited four of them. All were very skilled artists. Two of them had pieces in the reservation Museum. One of those was Adelphia Martinez. Adelphia is a wonderful potter. Her pieces range in price from $200 to $1500, maybe more. Adelphia is in her mid 70's and no longer leaves the reservation except to shop. She sells her work only from her home. She showed us a wedding pot that had not yet been fired. It will sell for at least $1000. She said she hopes to make three more before November and believes all will sell. Wedding pots have two spouts and are very difficult to make. Today she sold a small pot to a couple from NYC for around $800. We met the couple and they were thrilled with their purchase. Adelphia is a gracious, classy lady. She reminded me of my Aunt Edna.
Adelphia told us she quits making pottery in November and resumes making it again in the spring. She said her mother always told her that the clay mother needs to rest. She said that is the spiritual reason for the hiatus. The other reason is that the cold clay is hard on her old hands. Adelphia's husband, a professional photographer, was a grand nephew of Marie Martinez.
We also met a wonderful couple, Elmer and Deborah Torres, at a Native Indian shop on the reservation. Had a great time talking to them. Their son, who works full time as a cad computer operator, is also a wonderful water colorist of Pueblo subject matter. We purchased one of his original paintings on a card he sells in their shop.
We will fondly remember this day forever.
Signing off until tomorrow, Bill and Marsha, inspired by the Pueblo people and their art
Adelphia told us she quits making pottery in November and resumes making it again in the spring. She said her mother always told her that the clay mother needs to rest. She said that is the spiritual reason for the hiatus. The other reason is that the cold clay is hard on her old hands. Adelphia's husband, a professional photographer, was a grand nephew of Marie Martinez.
We also met a wonderful couple, Elmer and Deborah Torres, at a Native Indian shop on the reservation. Had a great time talking to them. Their son, who works full time as a cad computer operator, is also a wonderful water colorist of Pueblo subject matter. We purchased one of his original paintings on a card he sells in their shop.
We will fondly remember this day forever.
Signing off until tomorrow, Bill and Marsha, inspired by the Pueblo people and their art
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